How To Pick The Perfect Auto Repair Shop

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Photo via scaleartist.de

A common complaint every car owner has is the difficulty of finding a good car repair shop. Modern cars are extremely complicated machines that require years of expertise to fix and maintain. Because of this, it isn’t uncommon for mechanics to overcharge lay customers hundreds of pounds more for their services (which, sometimes, doesn’t even solve your original problems).

        Picking the right shop, therefore, is a crucial part of car ownership. Many reputable companies that provide auto repairs are usually made up of skilled personnel that use modern equipment to provide unwavering service. Below, we will pick up a few tips on how to find these auto repair shops:

        1. Don’t leave repairs until the last minute: One of the worst things you can do as a car owner is to wait until the very last minute to find a repair shop. This means that when your car breaks down and you don’t have the necessary tools to perform basic troubleshooting, you will have no option but to head over to the nearest mechanic possible, who, knowing your plight, can charge whatever he wants.

        2. Look for repair shops with similar vehicles as yours: If you head into a repair shop and find it filled with cheap cars from the 1990s (while you drive a 2012 Land Rover), it might be a good idea to head over to another facility. A clean, well-organized facility filled with vehicles in the same class and category as yours is a good indication that the repair shop knows what it is doing.

        3. Be wary of scare tactics: If you take your car to a mechanic and the first thing he tells you is that the car needs immediate repairs or it will fall apart (worse, get you into an accident), you need to find a new mechanic. Auto repair shops often use scare tactics such as these to force car owners to buy expensive upgrades and components. Avoid such shops at all costs.

        4. Do your research: Before patronising any repair shop, do a thorough search online and look for reviews on local blogs and review sites. Sure, these might be biased, but they are also the best way to know some of the issues with the repair shop.

        5. Clear, upfront rates: Any competent, well-run repair shop should be able to tell you the exact price for its labor and various services upfront before you give away your car to the shop. A mechanic unwilling to reveal his labor rates usually has something to hide and should be avoided at all costs.

             Besides these, the most important thing for a car owner is to be proactive about car maintenance. With regular maintenance, you can often spot big issues early and avoid paying tons of money later on when your car eventually breaks down.